van norman



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Moder.)

A. R. VAN NORMAN.

KNOGKDOWN CHAIR.

No. 521,395. Patented June 12, 1894.;

TNESSES: M XLMQM, I ,(VJ. 71 IQLW A7TOHNEY.

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WASHINGTON. n. C.

A. R. VAN NORMAN.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

KNOGKDOWN CHAIR.

No. 521,395. Patented June 12, 1894.

ABE R. VAN NORMAN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE GRAND RAPIDS PIANO CASE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

KNOCKDOWN CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 521,395, dated June 12, 1 894.

Application filed N m e 26,1893, SeriaIN 492.002. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

l 3e it known that I, ABE R. VAN NORMAN, a CltlZGll of the United States, residing at the city of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Knockdown Chair, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a knock-down chair composed of four pieces: side'pieces, seat or bottom and back piece, the whole com posed of thin boards or material, preferably I constructed of three ply veneers, the whole out into such shape that the pieces may be quickly and readily put together, forming a substantial chair and which can be readily taken topieces and packed when not in use, and the lnvention is peculiarly applicable to toy chairs and toy furniture, but may b'e constructed for actual use if desired; the objects of my invention being to construct a very cheap and easily made chair which can be readily taken down and put together without the use of nails, screws, key or glue. These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanlsm illustrated in the accompanying drawin gs, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 1s a perspective view of the chair back.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chair seat;

and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the side frames or pieces.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein the letter A indicates the side frames or pieces which are preferably cut out of thin boards by means of a jig or band saw, and B indicates the seat or bottom provided with approximately T- shaped side heads or wings DD and the openings I II, which may be constructed in the form of slots as shown at the sides with the center hole or opening midway between the slots.

0 shows the chair back provided at its lower end with a plurality of projections J J J also provided with side wings GG and slots 11-11.

F shows the slots at the top of the side pieces.

E shows the openings in the side pieces with which the wings DD engage.

In putting up thechair the seatB is placed in position with the T-shaped side heads or wings D passing through the openings E and engaging therewith,-the wings having slots cut so as to fit securely upon the side pieces, and the openings E have an incline so that the bottom piece having been placed into position will slide down and wedge securely at the bottom of the openings E, it being understood that the slots in the bottom piece are of sufficient width to fit closely the side pieces,

so that when the bottom piece is placed in position as shown in Fig. 1, it is retained securely therein. The construction of the T- shaped heads or wings D effectually prevents lateral separation of the side frames or pieces A, and holds the side edges of the seat against the innersurfaces of the side frames or pieces. The back piece. 0 is then fitted into position with the projections J-J engaging with the openings II, and the wings G-G fitting down upon the tops of the side pieces while the slots F engage with the back piece fitting close thereon; that is, slot I-I fits down upon the side piece below the bottom of the slot F, while the slot F fits closely upon the back piece above the top of the slot H. The back piece is set at a backward inclination from the seat or bottom B and when the projections J J have entered the openings I II these. projections J J are bound in these openings so as to retain the bottom piece in position and so as to form a substantial attachment between the back piece and the bottom.

The form of the back piece maybe Varied, as well as the general outline of the parts,- the object of my invention being to form the chair in four parts, to wit: the side pieces, the bottom piece and the back piece, the whole attached securely together by means of the slots and wings, each slot engaging with an appropriate part of the corresponding piece 5 to which it is attached. I have shown the back piece cut out in an ornamental way. This form or ornament may be changed, or the back piece and the bottom piece can be made plain, if desired.

In constructing toy chairs, I prefer to use material made of three ply veneer, which gives great strength to the -chair and prevents the splitting and breaking of the proeetmg wings, and causes the slots to engage more securely than can be done with a chair constructed of ordinary boards.

It will be evident, that, if desired, glue may be used in attaching the parts, but in practioal use I have designed to depend upon the fitting of the parts for holding the chair together.

Having thus described my invention, what I claun to have invented, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A knock-down chair, consisting of side frames A having transverse openings E, a seat having approximately T-shaped heads I) at its side edges and slots or openings I at its rear end, and a chair-back O engaging the upper ends of the side frames and having projections J at its lower end for engaging the slots or openings at the rear end of the seat, substantially as described.

2. A knock-clown chair, consisting of side frames A having transverse openings E and provided at their upper ends with slots F, a chair seat B having approximately T-shaped heads or wings D at its side edges and slots or openings I at its rear end, and a chairback G having its upper end portion provided with wings G and slots Il,and its lower portion with projections J to engage the slots 0r openings at the rear end of the seat, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two wit nesses.

ABE R. VAN NORMAN. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

EDWARD TAGGART, CHRISTOPHER IIONDELINK. 

